As most people know at this point I have accepted a one year contract as Network Engineer for the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. This is through the USAP program of the NSF, managed by Raytheon Polar Services (RPSC).

http://usap.gov/

So here I am, resurrecting my blog for those interested in following along. I make no promises – this blog has been a way for me to document my adventures for personal future reference. There are certainly better writers out there. My goal is to combine topics such as life a the South Pole with aspects of networking and communications systems at the bottom of the Earth. I will also be posting my attempts at photography including astrophotography which I have never before tried.

A bit about my current schedule for the next few months:

1. August 24th, End of Vestas

My time at Vestas was short - 11.5 months. The company was great: international team, interesting projects, and working in an industry that is making dents in how we generate power on this planet. Had such a great opportunity not presented itself I would still be here, pushing packets for wind turbines and travelling across rural America.

2. August 28th, Burning Man

The South Pole will be out of my mind for a week while I'm in a hot desert being out of my mind. Extreme heat is a nice symmetry for the upcoming extreme cold I will be experiencing. Also interesting - the South Pole is drier than the Black Rock Desert. Alex is travelling with me and attending for the first time.

3. September 19th - 29th, Denver

As a “winter over” - someone who works the Austral Winter, Feb to Oct - I have more things to learn than someone who goes down for just the Austral Summer, Oct to Feb. For a couple weeks in September I will be in training, mostly for Fire and Medical. I am looking forward to this as much of it will also apply to sailing.

4. Early October, Partay in Portland!

Carla and I have been discussing a joint dinner-party of some sort as a last bash to hang out with friends and family. We're not sure what this will be yet.

5. Mid-End of October, Deployment

I don't have a specific date yet, but sometime after the 15th I begin the journey to the South Pole to begin my 1 year tour. Portland → Denver → Los Angeles → Aukland → Christchurch → McMurdo, Antarctica → South Pole. Travel time end-to-end sometimes takes a week, sometimes more. Patience and going with the flow are required characteristics in such an adventure. The possibility of being delayed somewhere is ever-present and I am sure the logistics of witnessing our operations on Antarctica are going to exceed what I picture them to be.